The spirit of Crooked Gravel traces back to the original “Crooked Roubaix”, an audacious personal challenge undertaken by legendary pro cyclist Ron Kiefel in the early 2000s. Kiefel, a former Tour de France stage winner, rode approximately 95 miles—most of it unpaved—at high alpine elevations before gravel bikes were even a thing. His visionary journey, which started in downtown Winter Park and climbed above 10,000 feet, inspired what would become one of Colorado’s first major gravel races.
Fast forward to today: through the evolution of Gravel Racing, several event managers over the years have transformed Kiefel’s self-challenge into an annual event that retains the original’s rugged, exploratory ethos—while offering accessible course options that celebrate both challenge and community.
The Crooked Gravel has evolved into one of Colorado’s premier high mountain gravel events, managed and produced by Gemini Adventures, of Boulder, Colorado.
Course Overview and Finish Details
Both courses will begin with a police-led neutral rollout for approximately 4 miles. Shortly after, the routes will split:
-The 25-mile course takes riders on a scenic and enjoyable loop, with the timed section ending around mile 23.
-The 67-mile long course follows a challenging lollipop-shaped route, with the timed section concluding at approximately mile 62.5.
While your official time stops there, your ride isn’t truly complete until you roll back into town and cross under the finish line arch—where you’ll be greeted with free food, cold beer, and live music.
Please remember to follow all rules of the road, especially during the untimed section as you return to town.
We can’t wait to cheer you across the finish!
Let’s start with the stats: 67 miles of rugged adventure, nearly all on gravel, with 5,600 feet of climbing starting at a breathtaking 8,700 feet in elevation. But gravel riding is about so much more than numbers, isn’t it?
After a police-led rollout from downtown Winter Park, riders make a sharp left onto gravel roads and dive into the heart of the Arapaho National Forest. The ascent winds through towering pines and alongside babbling creeks, with the air thinning and the views only getting better as you climb.
Both the long and short courses begin together at 8:00 a.m., setting the stage for an unforgettable day of high-mountain gravel.
The timing section starts at 4 miles and will end at 62.5 miles. That’s a whole lot of gravel! The first climb, tops out shy of 10,400 ft. There, you’ll have your first opportunity to refresh and regroup at the Church Park aid station (mile 13.5).
Then it’s time for miles of smiles as you cruise down the rough forest roads that give way to wide-open, smooth-running dirt roads that you’ll swear are smoother than pavement.
Willow Creek aid station (mile 39.5) will arrive just in time to power up before your longest most sustained climb of the day. This one is a doozy with 2,500 ft. of vertical over 13 miles.
Take in the views and recuperate at Church Park #2 (mile 53.5) before descending back down Crooked Creek to the timing mat. From there it’s a neutral cruise back into town / Hideaway Park via a bike path. Be sure to experience the fun of the Finish line arch (Start/Finish line) where you will get food, beer and we can be sure you have safely returned from your fun challenge.
Gravel riding may be a pancake-flat affair in Texas, or a rolling-hill thing in Kansas or Nebraska. But here in Colorado we do things a little differently. The Crooked Gravel “mini”, 25 miles with just over 1700 ft. of elevation, is a great way to get introduced to high mountain gravel, with a moderate climb on the backside of Winter Park Resort. The course is mostly forest service roads that will flatten out prior to a jaunt back into town on a bike path. You will hit the Vasquez Creek aid station twice, at mile 17.5 then again at 21.3 miles, where you can catch your breath, replenish nutrients or use the facilities.
You can choose to either do the course timed or you can enter the non-timed recreational category. Timing will begin at mile 4 and will end at approximately mile 23. Be sure to experience the fun of the Finish line arch (Start/Finish line) where you will get food, beer and we can be sure you have safely returned from your fun challenge. You can either race by challenging yourself or soak in the views and enjoy the high alpine air.
📅 When: August 2, 2025
📍 Where: Winter Park, Colorado (Rendezvous Event Center)
🔗 Ready to ride? Register now and choose your challenge ➤ staging.avidcyclist.com
Gear up, mark your calendar, and don’t miss The Crooked Gravel—where history meets high-country adventure! 🚵♀️🌄
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